These Are the Absolute Best BB Creams for Oily Skin

Scholars believe that the original, culturally accurate translation of BB cream is "blemish balm." Now, of course, BB stands for — and does — just about everything. But all that moisturizing and skin tone-evening and UV-combatting have created a twist of beauty irony: Though many BBs are indeed mattifying, they're often too heavy for oily or acne-prone skin. We dug through the complex alphabet of do-it-all balms to find the ones that really fight oil without causing breakouts.

With 2 percent salicylic acid, this superlightweight BB moonlights as a serious acne fighter. The sheer tint spreads so easily that you can apply it without a mirror, and it dries to a soft, almost powdery, matte finish.

Formulated with pore-filling polymers, this matte-finish BB cream works like a primer and BB cream in one, smoothing skin texture and providing natural, semi-sheer coverage of redness and breakouts. The only downside? It’s only available in two shades (neither of which are suitable for darker complexions).

This lightweight tint is a heavyweight when it comes to benefits: Mattifying minerals keep oil at bay for hours, the coverage is just enough to conceal imperfections, and the oil-free hydrators keep skin smooth. And at less than $15, it's a total steal.

This BB is green — like, Shrek green. But when you start to blend it into your skin, it transforms to a warm yellowish shade that's billed as universal but looks best on medium skin tones that are prone to flushing. Just a few dabs on our tester's perpetually rosy cheeks instantly neutralized her redness. And it feels just as light on bare skin as any daytime moisturizer.

This oil-free gel formula is a two-time AllureBest of Beauty winner, and for good reason: In addition to coming in 16 shades, the medium-coverage formula is jam-packed with lightweight, plant-based moisturizers, hydrating the skin without clogging pores or adding any additional shine.

Peppermint, chamomile, lavender, jasmine, ylang-ylang, hibiscus — all delicious in a cup of tea, and all found in this SPF 30 BB cream to control oil production and calm irritation. The medium-coverage formula also blurs those stubborn large pores around your nose, leaving your skin with a hydrated matte finish.

This BB cream is a basic one-and-done product — it's lightweight and oil-free and comes in one sheer shade. It won't replace your foundation for serious coverage, but a pea-size drop evens out oily, blotchy skin in about three seconds flat.

With oily skin often comes acne, and with acne often comes redness and hyperpigmentation — ugh. Fortunately, this mattifying cream formula from Korean brand Dr. Jart+ features aloe vera and green tea extract to soothe and minimize current breakouts, plus arbutin and caviar extract (!) to help fade old acne scars. The only drawback? It’s currently only available in one light/medium shade.

Tarte’s entire Amazonian Clay line is great for those with oily skin, and this mattifying base is no exception. In addition to oil-absorbing clay, the medium-coverage formula features chamomile to calm redness and irritation, plus vitamins A, C, and E to even the complexion, fade dark spots, combat wrinkles, and prevent breakouts. In short: This BB does it all.

This two-time AllureBest of Beauty winner packs a serious punch, thanks to a cocktail of complexion-correcting vitamins (A, B, C, and E), wrinkle-reducing peptides, and moisture-rich hyaluronic acid — all of which work in harmony to actually improve your skin, rather than just cover up existing imperfections. The oil-free, SPF 50+ formula comes in seven medium-coverage shades, and dries to a natural, dewy finish — like your skin, but…well, you get it.

In general, non-hormonal acne has two main causes: Excess oil and bacteria. This award-winning BB cushion combats both, thanks to an oil-absorbing, mattifying formula and its built-in antimicrobial sponge applicator. The easy-to-use cushion cream comes in six shades, and offers lightweight, buildable coverage for a flawless finish every time.

Mattifying products can sometimes be a bit drying, even for those with oily skin. This lightweight formula from Clinique, developed specifically for acne-prone skin, is the exception to the rule, keeping shine at bay for up to 12 hours without getting chalky or settling into fine lines. Available in four, medium-coverage shades, it’s a great choice if you need to cover up blemishes or redness but don’t feel like doing a full face.

While not technically a BB cream (it’s more of a tinted moisturizer with skincare benefits), this luxurious-feeling cream deserves a shout-out for boasting one of the most natural-looking matte finishes we’ve ever seen. In addition to kicking butt in the oil-busting department, sans chalkiness, the lightweight, sheer formula features vitamins C and E to help fade stubborn dark spots over time.

If you usually find yourself reaching for the blotting papers by 3 p.m., this mattifying base should be next up on your must-buy list. With silica to absorb oil as it appears, the medium-coverage formula (from the OG ‘no-makeup makeup’ queen) will keep even the slickest T-zones shine-free all day (and night). Best of all, it’s available in nine shades — from the palest porcelain to the deepest dark — to suit virtually any complexion.

This BB cream hides any problem areas with its medium to heavy coverage — and treats them, too. Peptides lighten dark spots and fight wrinkles over time, while shea butter and squalane keep skin seriously hydrated but not slick. The three shades skew rather light for all skin tones, but the slight yellow undertones are brilliant at camouflaging red spots on fairer skin tones.

Let's get one thing clear: Silicone does not clog pores or cause acne. But if you're still intent on going silicone-free, this BB cream is a great bet. Here's what it does have: hyaluronic acid (to hydrate), antioxidantvitamins C and E (to protect), ruby powder (to add a subtle sheen)... and a hefty price tag ($135 — apparently rubies don't come cheap).